Mich. woman fined $250 for throwing grapes

updated 9:22 a.m. ET Aug. 24, 2007

DETROIT - An activist who pelted school board members with grapes during a raucous vote to close 34 city schools was fined $250 for disturbing the peace.

Agnes Hitchcock, leader of the Call ’Em Out Coalition, said she will not be disruptive at future school board meetings. She said the case, which ended with her conviction and sentence Thursday, gave her a chance to speak about mismanagement in the school district.

“It was worth the risk in order to be able to talk about these things in court,” she told the Detroit Free Press.

The grapes she threw April 4 beaned at least one board member before police led Hitchcock out of the auditorium. The board voted 6-5 to close schools because of a budget deficit and declining enrollment.

“This shows there are consequences to the actions we take,” board President Jimmy Womack said. “It’s just regrettable (Hitchcock) has no remorse for attacking school board members.”

In addition to the fine, Hitchcock must serve six months unsupervised probation.

More from msnbc.com Reservists come marching home from Iraq — to no job Many July 4 fireworks shows going up in smoke What was Jackson's doctor's name? Take our quiz ‘Unrecovery’: Jobless consumers hold back economy  Cosmic Log: New moon vistas revealed   Slideshow: Statue of Liberty, then and now Obama health czar directed firms in trouble

MORE FROM WEIRD NEWS

Weird news Section Front

Cop nabs robber minutes after graduating Cabbie sprays deodorant to repel attacker Students get X-rated version of class DVD Cops: Teens mistake sex screams for assault Bigfoot? Nope, just a big hoax in Conn. Video shows police chief, cop kissing Mont. judge rules on case — 24 years later Son of 'master counterfeiter' arrested Police: Gas station robbers run out of gas Butter statue of Jackson? Fair plans one Weird news Section Front   Add Weird news headlines to your news reader: